Having helped the Philippines qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time in their history earlier this year, the goalkeeper went on to secure promotion into the promised land of the Premier League in his debut season with Cardiff City.

And the 28-year-old more than played his part.

The Chelsea youth product played the full 90 minutes in all but one of the Bluebirds' 46 Championship matches during the course of the 2017-18 campaign, and the 0-0 draw with Reading on the final day took the goalkeeper's clean sheet tally in the league to 19 for the season.

And a memorable day ended with Etheridge toasting a remarkable promotion with his team mates in the bowels of Cardiff City Stadium, and all the while he had silverware hanging around his neck.

But it hasn't all been plain sailing for the shot stopper.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Rewind the clock back only four years, and Etheridge had been cast into the wilderness after being released by Fulham, the very side he would later be locked in an intense battle with to secure automatic promotion alongside champions Wolves.

The goalkeeper had been itching for the chance to prove himself with the Cottagers, but it never came.

And after numerous loan spells away from Craven Cottage, Etheridge was released by Fulham.

Days, weeks and even months went by. But Etheridge still could not find himself a home.

It had become so bleak that he was prepared to quit the game, seeing no future for himself as a professional footballer.

"When you're an academy player, I went from Chelsea to Fulham, two Premier League teams at the time, and I was sitting on the bench in the Europa League and the Premier League. You don't think it's going to finish. But that's part of being a footballer," he said.

"I sold my house, I sold my cars and I was about a week away from going back to the Philippines.

"It's a tough industry to be in. I can look back at it now and it's made me a much stronger person.

"I got offered a contract from Oldham to sit on the bench, and I did it. I was living on my mate's sofa, but that's what you've got to do to get by.

"Being a London boy, to go up to Manchester, I was never willing to travel but one of my mates lived up there and I asked to kip on his sofa."

A lifeline had presented itself.

And while it was one that by no means guaranteed his future in the sport, it was at least one that offered a glimmer of a route back in.

One appearance for Oldham was all Etheridge had to show for the sleepless nights he spent on a sofa.

But — and you'll notice a theme developing — that was once again not enough to stop Etheridge from proving himself.

A loan spell with Charlton was arranged, and it was at The Valley that the goalkeeper got some much needed minutes under his belt, although he was still released by the Addicks at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

Nil desperandum. Again.

A drop to League One outfit Walsall finally presented Etheridge with the opportunity that he so desperately craved, and going on his sheer determination and efforts to succeed, the opening he well and truly deserved.

After two impressive seasons for the Saddlers, Neil Warnock made his move, swiftly making Etheridge his Number One.

"I paid for myself to train at Charlton Athletic, I'm close with the goalkeeping coach there," added Etheridge.

Neil Etheridge in action for Charlton against the Bluebirds in 2014 (Image: (c) Huw Evans Agency)

"I just trained as hard as I could and waited. It's a very hard industry to be in and stay in, it's all in the past now, it'll never leave me and it's made a lot stronger and made me who I am today.

"It was a very emotional day for me. This year has been fantastic with the national team qualifying for the Asian cup for the first time. Personally, four years ago, I left Fulham and was without a club for five months. I have to say a massive thank you to the gaffer for giving me this opportunity and sticking by me for the season.

"He's brought in players that believe in the philosophy he wants, which is a winning way. He'll admit himself we don't always play the prettiest but we come out with results. At the end of the day it's a results based industry and that's why we've been promoted.

"The manager has always kept positive. He's been there and done it before. He's got every player in that dressing room believing in him and rightly so.

And it's that immense respect with the Yorkshireman that typifies Cardiff's stunning achievements under Warnock who won his eighth promotion as a manager with the Bluebirds.

"We've got to savour this moment," added Etheridge.

"The celebrations from the fans and ourselves showed that. We achieved exactly what we wanted to.

Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge with Neil Warnock

"We went for the first six games unbeaten, with five wins and one draw against Fulham. It was a fantastic start to the season.

"We hit a sticky patch over the Christmas period, but in the New Year when we beat Sunderland, I could tell it was definitely a team that could continue their winning ways and get past the finish line.

"The dressing room is very solid, it has been throughout the season.

"It wouldn't be football if you didn't have critics. There'll always be people who doubt you and question you as a player. It's been a fantastic season for me but I'm still learning, I'm definitely not the finished article.

"I've always believed in my ability. To say I'm a Premier League goalkeeper, we'll have to wait until next season."

Whether Etheridge does actually go on to have a crack at the big time remains to be seen.

But whatever the future holds for the Philippines international, his attitude and desire sum up the qualities that are necessities if you want to represent Cardiff City Football Club under the current regime.